Offset lithographic machine



R. ABERLE OFFSET LITHOGRAPHIC MACHINE Dec. 13, 1938.

Filed Aug. 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l I IN VENTOR, R0 Aberle,

- ORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1938.' R. .ABERLE 2,140,256 I OFFSET LITHOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

BY Rog Alwttl p g fi ggiwomn.

Dec. 13, 1938. R. ABERLE OFFSET 'LITHOGRAPHIC MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 29, 19.55

E 3 1D 2 A M ORNEY.

Dec. 13,1938. R. ABERLE 2,140,256

OFFSET LITHOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed Aug. 29, 1935 e Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR,

bar/1e,

5" ORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1938. R. ABERLE OFFSET LITHOGRAPHIC MACHINE Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 29, 1935 a INVENTOR,

R03 Abarle.

9 TORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1938; ABERLE 2,140,256

OFFSET LITHOGRAPHIC MACHINE- Filed Aug. 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR,

rar -steel is, 1938 g 2 l 25fi as great strict (BFFSEET LE'EBOGRAPHIC MACHINE Boy Abel-1e, Long Branch, N. 3., assignor to Sanlin Ofiset lFress Manufacturing Corporation, New York, N. 512, a corporation or New York Appiication August 29, 1935, Serial No. 38,423 2 Qlaims. (Cl. Mil-JAR) This invention relates generally to printing verted so that the printed matter thereon apmachines and more particularly to such rnapears face up and a constant check up of the chines wherein printing matter is transferred quality of the printing thereon may be easily from a lithographic printing plate to an ofiset made. 5 rubber blanket or impression cylinder and there- Another advantage of the present machine is 5 from to a blank sheet of paper. the provision of structure whereby the feeder The main object of this invention is the proviis operable as an independent unit and may be sion of structure wherein a single main cylinder simply and quickly detached for purposes of carries the lithographic printing plate and also cleaning, repair or substitution of types having the blank sheets of paper on which the printed different capacities.

matter is to be placed. A further advantage of the invention is the Another object of the present invention is the provision of structure which assures accurate provision of a machine having an offset impresregistration of the separate sheets as they pass sion cylinder which has a substantially less dithrough the machine, so that the printing mate-, ameter than the cylinder carrying the lithorial thereof is properly aligned and spaced from graphic plate and the blank paper, so that the the edges of said sheets.

warren offset impression cylinderis enabled to make more A still further object of the invention is to intimate contact with said lithographic plate Provide a machine of this kind which can be and said paper. operated without any special skill or effort and An object of this invention is the provision is thus suitable for use in ofiices, schools, et 20 of means for simply attaching and removing the cetera. lithographic sheet to the main cylinder. Another. object of the lnventionis the provi- Another object of this invention isthe provision sion of an offset lithographic machine which of structure whereby feeding rollers are retakes up little space by virtue ohgthe compact placed by gripping fingers which assure positive and co-operative arrangement-of the various sub- 2 feed. 7 assemblies therein. Y

Still another object of the present invention A still further advantage of the'invention is is to provide a machine in which the separate the reduction in the number and compleidty of sheets of paper, as fed through the machine, are the parts, whereby corresponding economies are not at any time allowed freedom, but are continaccomplished lnthe manufacture and use there- 30 uously and positively gripped either by pneumatic of. Y or mechanical means. These objects and other ends and advantages" Another object of the invention is to provide a will more fully appear in the progress of thisdismachine of this kind which permits of frequent closure and as pointed out in the appended v and efficient cleaningin a simple manner by claims. p v 35 reason of the increased accessibility of the parts In the accompanying drawings, rigiit and left thereof subject to soilage. designations indicate right and left hand sides An additional object of the invention is to as the operator faces the front of the machine provide a machine of this kind, having a safety which'carries the feeder, while the same numerals so stopping mechanism whereby upon the failure are used to indicate corresponding parts througli- 4c of the feeder to properly insert a blank sheet of out the several views thereof: paper into the'transfer, the feeder isstopped and Figure 1 is aschematic view of the upper porthe offset impression cylinder is dropped out tion of the machine as seen from the right side of contact with the sheet carrying surface on thereof, ShOWing P t Of h feeder, transfer, the main cylinder. 1 main and impression cylinders, the-discharging An advantage of this machine is the provision and stacking mech nism, and associated parts. of mechanism for adjusting the clearance be- Figure 2 is a schematic view including the tween the ofiset impression cylinder and the lower portion of the, machine showing the-main carrying surface of the main cylinder to corremotor and principal drives therefrom as seen spend with the different thicknesses of the ,vari-' fromthe left side thereof. ous types of papers suitable for lithography J Figure 3 is a fragmentary-perspective view, Another advantage of the present machine is showing in detail a portionoi the main cylinder thev provision of structure in the discharging and the means thereon for attaching the forand stacking mechanism, whereby the sheets, ward end of the lithographic sheet.- after having an impression put thereon, are in- Figure 4 is an elevational view showing the 53 right side of the entire machine with thelegs thereof broken off.

Figure 4A is a fragmentary detailed view in and associated parts.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the machine taken through the transfer and main cylinder.-

Figure 10-is a reduced fragmentafry rear elevational view showing in detail the mechanism for actuating the gripping fingers on the transfer.

Figure 11 is,a fragmentary vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of the machine, taken just inside the left wall of the machine and showing mechanism adjacent the left wall and also'the inner-surface of the right wall and mechanism 30 adjacent thereto.

35 pensating regulator r Figure'12 is a fragmentary rear sectional view Figure 11 substantially along the lines i2-i2 thereon.

Figure 13 is a vievigin' perspective of the com- 1' rvariations in paper thlckness and automatic feed stop.

Figure 14-is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear upper portion of the machine looking toward the'inner surface ofv the right wall and showing'in detail the discharging and stacking mechanism.

Figure 15.is a fragmentary detafled schematic view in section of the discharging and stacking mechanism. I i

As best seen in Figure 4, the machine is supported npon a table-like frame 28 having vertical legs 2i which also support alower shelf 22 carrying the main electrical motor 23 and also a cornpressor-vacuum pump (not shown). Projectingupwardly from both sides of frame 28 aretwo vertical irregularly shaped plates 24 and 25 which, by reason of the bracing of several transverse tiebars 28 which integrate the said plates, constitutethe chassis of the machine. The upper edges of plates 24 and 25 are semicircular in shape and carry suitable trunnioned therebetween a horizontal transverse shaft 21 having fixedly mounted thereon by means of spider end heads 29. a main cylinder. Cylinder 28 carries integrally mounted thereon and to one side thereof a ring gear 38 and immediately outwardly thereof a peripheral flange 3l, semicircular in shape, whileon the other. side thereof said cylinder carries another flange 32, identicalwith flange-3|. and outwardly thereof a segmental gear 33 semicircular in shape. pylinder 28 is provided with two diametrically opposed transverse slots, 34 providing space for the lithographic sheet front edge attaching me hanism as best seen in Figure" 3, and 35 providing space for the lithographic sheet rear edge attaching mechanism, and the cylinder blank paper front edge grippers asbest seen in Figure 8. 4

The. cylinder 28 at slot 34 is out and bent inwardly to form the angularlydisposed plane fla e 36. carrying spaced guide. blocks 81- The able with the'spindle 4|.

front edge of the lithographic sheet 38 is provided with a series of spaced groups of aligned perforations which are adapted to be penetrated by the correspondingly placed pins 39. Pins 39 are integral projections downwardly extending from the small blocks 48 which are aligned and rotat- Spindle 4! is suitably trunnioned in spider heads 29 and controlled by a concealed spring 42 tends normally to rotate in a'clockwise direction as viewed in Figure. 3. A

radial arm 43 is perpendicularly bent at its outer end and its inner end is afilxed to said spindle '4l. The forward portion of the under surface of the blocks 31' is slightly rabbetted and said blocks are mounted on a thin transverse spacer 44 in turn afilxed to flange 36. It may now be seen that in attaching the front edge of the lithographic sheet, said edge is placed-abutting the outer edge of spacer 44 and between the under surface of blocks 37 and flange 36 while the arm 43 is depressed. Arm 43 projects through head 29 and is manually operated. Upon the release of pressure on arm 43, spring 42 causes the pins 39 to penetrate the perforations in the forward edge of sheet 38 thus securing the-sheet.

positively.

It may henoted at this point that the mechanism just described permits the lithographic sheet 38 to be detached from the main cylinder 28 by releasing the front edge of the sheet first and the rear edge last. The advantage of this is that'it allows the lithographic sheet to be removed without unduly wrinkling it and without cutting or damaging the rubber blanket H3 on the impression cylinder 2.,

The cylinder 28 at slot aligned pins which engage corresponding perforations in the rear edge ofthe sheet 38. Roller 45 is suitablyv trunnioned in heads 29 penetrating therethrough to have attached at one end an ordinary spring controlled ratchet 46 and at the other end thereof an ordinary operating handle (not shown). Turning roller 45 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 assures the even. and proper tension of the sheet 38 sothat'it lies smoothly on the cylinder 28 thereunder. J

Situated also in the slot 35 are the grippers for holding ,the front edge of the blank sheet of paper; These grippers 41 are composed preferably of thin spring steel and are adapted when in the closed position thereof to hold the blank sheet firmly against the cylinder 28 thereat. Grippers 41 are suitably mounted upon a series of spaced projections on a sleeve 48 carried by a spindle 49. Spindle 49 is transversely-disposed and trunnioned in heads 29, penetrating through i as is provided with a roller 45 having a series of spaced groups of short the left head 29 and having aillxed to the exposed a roller mounted thereon. Numeral 5] indicates a pin which projects from the outer face of flange 3| and serves both as. a stop for the rotation of follower 58 and as an anchor for a coil spring 52.

The other end of spring 52 is connected to the spindle 49 and serves to turn said spindle in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 thereby normally retaining the grippers 41 in their open or disengaged position. Grippers" are closed by the rotation of spindle 41 which occurs whenever the roller on the follower. 58 engages the stationary ramp or cam 53. Cam' 53 is indicatedin Figures 2 and 9,. and is spaced from and affixed to the inner face of plate 24.

Ring gear 382 best seen in Figures 14 and 2, de-

terminal thereof a short radial follower 58 with -6 I the water roller sorbent material, is brought into contact with the on a transverse rod rives rotation by meshing with a gear 54 fixed on a transverse shaft 55, a sprocket 55 also on shaft 55, a chain 57, a sprocket 58 on shaft 59, a

pulley 60 also on shaft 59, a belt BI, a pulley B2 on a shaft 63, a pulley 64 also on shaft 83, a belt 55 and a pulley 66 affixed to the-rotorshaft of the motor 23. Shafts 55 and 59 aresuitably mounted in bearings in the plates 24 and 25, while shaft 63 is supported by an upright 61 off shelf 22.

Plates 24 and 25 are provided with integral rear extensions 58 and 69 which carry mounted therebetween a transverse shaft 10. Shaft I is rotatable and the bearings therefor are adjustable in slots II in said extensions 58 and 69, in order to insure the tautness of the belts and chains surrounding shafts I0 and 55. Shaft 55 has fixed thereon four pulleys 12 which carry individual parallel continuous belts 13 with identical pulleys I4 corres ondingly fixed on' shaft I0. Belts '13 are preferably composed of linen cord as the greatest load placed thereon is a single sheet of paper as seen in Figure 14.

A traveling discharging gripper I is carried 16 which is non-rotatably mounted between a pair of chains 11. Chains 11 are carried by, oppositely mounted pulleys I8 on shafts 55 and 10. Discharging gripper i5 is comprised of a mounting block 18 affixed to rod 16 centrally thereof, a pair of arcuately bent fingers l9 pivotally mounted on the outer sides of said block, small operating levers 80 integral with said fingers, rollers on the ends of said levers, and coil springs wound about rod 18 and fixed thereto at the outer ends of said springs'in collars 8| and at the inner ends thereof to said levers. The outer face of block 18 is provided with a groove in order to enable it to clear a stationary cam 82 which rides on shaft 55 and is prevented from rotating by the supporting arm 83 extending off the tie-bar 28 adjacent thereto. The fingers 19 are slightly inwardly offset so that the small tips thereof bear against the outer surface of block 18 thereat. The rollers on the outer ends of levers 80 are adapted to contact cam 82 as the gripper is carried about by the chains 11 thus periodically opening the fingers 19'against the action of i the coil springs on rod 15 which springs keep the fingers 19 in the closed position thereof. The action of the gripper is illustrated in Figure 15.

Plates 24 and 25 have integral extensions 84;

and 85 respectively which serve as mounting brackets for the water roller carriage 86 best seen in Figure 14. Extension; 84 is bent inwardly at right angles and is provided with two horizontal orificed ears, adapted to receive pins 81. Pins 81 are downward integral projections from two lugs extending off the left side of the carriage 86:

The water roller carnage may be entirely detached from the chassis, but when the pins 81 are inserted in the ears on extension 84 the 08-1! riage pivots about'said pins. When the carriage 86 is swung into the transverse position thereof 80 composed of any suitable absheet 38 on the cylinder 28. Carriage 88 is retained in active-position by a latch 89 pivotally attached'to one end thereof and adapted to engage a headed pin 90 affixed to extension 85 which is inwardly and perpendicularly offset adjacent thereto. The water roller 88 is mounted on a spindle which projects therefrom at each end and is trunnioned in two angularly disposed slots 9| in carriage 86. Slots .9I are open at the upper ends thereof and carry trunnioned therewithin a roller 92. Roller 92 is composed preferably of noncorrosive metal such as brass and serves to press the water roller 88 in contact with the lithographic sheet 38 as carried by the cylinder 28, and also to evenly distribute the moisture within roller 88. The slots 9I permit the easy removal of rollers 88 and 92 and also allow said rollers to ride away from the cylinder when the flanges 3I and 32, which act as cams, raise the roller 88 which is suitably reinforced at the point of contact therewith.

Numeral 93 indicates the inking seen in Figure 1 and 4A) device (best Inking device 93 comprises two vertical irregularly shaped plates 94.

which together with transverse tie-bars 95 constitute the frame thereof, two inking rollers 95, two distributor rollers 91 and 98, and an ink reservoir and feeding roller 99. Distributor roller 98 is a laterally oscillating roller well known in the printing art, having a fixed axle and pin engaging an internal way in said roller. The axle of roller 98 is fixed in plates 94 at the top thereof. Rollers 91 and 96 are trunnioned in slots 500 out in plates 93 to permit'radial movement thereof with relation to cylinder 28. The

nioned in plates 93. Each of the rollers 96 carries a gear IOI which meshes with the ring gear730 thereby assuring the constant rotation thereof. The drive through gears IOI also precludes the possibility of damage to lithographic sheet 38 were the rotary movement of rollers 98 to be derived frictionally therefrom. Inking is accomplished by manually pressing the ink reservoir 99 rearwardly thereby contacting the lower roller 98,

roller 99 associated with the ink reservoir is trun- L and feeding a small quantity of the ink thereto.

The spindles of rollers 98 are each provided with annular flanges I02 which act as followers for the cams BI and 32 which periodically raise the said rollers out of contact with the cylinder 28. The purpose -of this last mentioned cam action is to raise the rollers 96 out of contact with that portion of cylinder 28 used to carry the blank sheets -of paper and allow the ink to reach only the lithographic sheet 38'. "Ihis prevents soiling the backs of the blank sheets.

Provision is made for the operationof the machine with the inking device 93 completely disengaged by the mounting of said device on an eccentric carriage'therefor. Each of the plates is provided with two indentations at the lower edge thereof, and these indentations rest upon and engage two transverse rods I03. The outer ends of rods I03 are provided with integral radial arms I04 and eccentric spindles I05 which are' trunnioned in plates 24 and 25 adjacent the upper edge thereof. The lower radial arm I04 is provided with an integral handle I06, and the both radial arms I04 are interconnected by a link I01.

.Movement of handle I06 results in raising or I lowering the eccentric carriage and consequently the inking device 93.

4 Situaed' below extensions 68 and 69 is a pivotally mounted shelf M8 for receiving and stacking the printed sheets as they are released by the gripper I5. Shelf I08 is provided with side vertical guides 09 and front and rear vertical guides IIO. These guides I09 and H0 project through slots in the shelf I08 from blocks and set screws riding on rods suitably supported from the under surface of said shelf as illustrated in- Figure l. The forward edge of shelf I08 is hinged to the chassis and is adapted for movement about said hinge to facilitate the removal of the stacks of paper deposited thereon. Shelf I08 is held m' operative position by a combined hook and bandle I I I pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to said shelf adjacent the rear edge thereof and detachabl y attached near the upper end thereof to a tie-bar 26 by hooking thereon.

Situated below cylinder 28 is an offset impression cylinder II 2 having-the outer surface thereof covered with a suitable material such as a rubber blanket II3. Blanket H3 is aflxed to cylinder I I 2 by inserting the ends'thereof into a transverse slot II4 (see Fig. 8) in said cylinder and hooking said ends on a series of spaced pins II5 on a transverse roller II6 suitably trunnioned in the heads of the impression cylinder II2. A known 5 spring controlled ratchet (not shown) acting on .roller II6 serves to maintain proper tension of the rubber-blanket II3. I

Cylinder H2 is mounted on an an axle II1 free to rotate thereabout, but is restrained by a worm II8 mounted on the left head of said cylinder which. engages a gear H9 fixed to axle II1. Worm H8 is carried on a spindle mounted in'two aligned orlficed lugs laterally projecting from the left head of cylinder H2, said spindle projecting through one of said lugs and terminating in a slotted shank so that it is capable of being rotated with an ordinary screw driver. Axle II 1 has a gear I20 afllxed thereon having one-half the number of teeth ofand meshing with gear 30. It may now be seen that cylinder II2 rotates at twice the speed of cylinder 28 and that the rotational displacement of the impression cylinder may be conveniently adjusted with relation to the main cylinder so that the ink may be transferred from the lithographic sheet 38 to the correct area on the rubber blanket II3 to assure t, exact registration of the printed material on the blank sheets. I

Axle H1 is journalled at both endsthefeof in channelled bearing blocks I2I which are vertically slideable between guideways I22 afllxed to the inner faces of plates 24 and 25 by short posts at the ends of said guideways as best seen in Figures 8 and 11. Bearingblocks 'I2I .are maintained in position vertically by bolts I23 in threaded engagement with the undersurface of blocks I2I, the heads of said bolts resting on channelled sliding blocks I24 also oil-guideways I22. The distance between blocks I21 and blocks I 24 is regulated by turning the bolts I23 and then looking the lock-nuts thereon. Blocks I23 rest 'on' cams I25 aflixed to a transverse axle I26, and said cams are in turn supported in the channelled U shaped blocks I21 also on guideways I22, said blocks I21 being prevented from dropping by the transverse tie-rod I28 connecting the plates 24 9 and 25. .It may thus be seen that rotation of axl I26 will result in the raising or lowering of axl II 1 and the impression cylinder II2.

Rotation of shaffl 26 is accomplished by the following means. Shaft 2 1 carries fixed thereon adj 'ent plate 24 a cam I28 which causes a push rod-follower I30therefor to acfuate a cam I3I freely'mounted on axle I2&therebelow. Follower (-3 I30 is capable of vertical reciprocation within the aligned orificed guides I32 projecting from the inner face of plate 24, and is provided with rollers mounted on the ends thereof. A contractile spring l33 -interconnects follower I30 with'the upper guide I32 and maintains the follower in active position, while a turnbuckle section I34 permits alteration of the effective lengthof sai'dfolqlower for purposes of adjustment; as best seen on Figure 1-1. Cam I.3I is maintained in contact with the lower roller on-follower I30 by a contractile I and the rotation of 'ax'le I26 spring I84 which interconnects said cam with a short upright post I35 fixed vertically in axle I26 adjacent thereto. A pulley I36, slideably k'eyed to axle I26, has an orifice in the inner face thereof adapted to engage a corresponding projecting pin on the cam I3I whenever the said pulley is moved inwardly along axle by means of a bifurcated lever I31. Lever I31 is pivotally mounted prox-- imate the middle thereof in an upright I38 laterally projecting from plate 26, the yoke portion of said lever riding in the annular groove of said pulley I36 while the upper arm of said lever is adapted to be contacted and moved outwardly of the machine by a disc I38 afllxed to the inner end of a horizontal reciprocating re-setting control I40.

Cam I23 is ,flxed on shaft 21 so that it forces .(through the means just described) the blanket II3 on the'impression cylinder II2 intointimate contact with the lithographic sheet 38 as carried o'nthe main cylinder 28 and lowers cylinder II2 when the 'blank paper carrying portion of cylinder 28 is in a position to contact cylinder II2. Bolt I23 and turnbuckle section I34 are adjusted so that the required pressure is obtained to impart a good printing impression on the said blanket. Cam I23 thus serves only to force the impression cylinder .up during only the impression taking part of the cycle, while during the printing part of the cycle the impression cylinder H2 is maintained in a raised position by the action of mechanism now to be described.

The left end of axle I26 projects through the plate 24 and has afllxed to the terminal thereat a long slotted radial arm I which slideably engages a pin I42 in the slot thereof. Pin I 42 projects laterally outward from a small block mounted on a sleeve I43 which is free to slide along a horizontal rod I44 mounted in a stud I46 at each end thereof. The sleeve I43 is prevented from rotating by reason of the fact that the inner face of the block thereon contacts the outer face of plate '24. Studs I45 project from the outer face of plate 24 and act aspermanent stops for the lateral displacement of sleeve I43, as best seen in Figure 13. An inverted L-shapedlatch I46 is pivotally mounted to' one side of and adjacent the lower edge of a block I41 which is adapted to slide along the rod I48 square in cross section. The ends of rod I48 are supported in two hangers I43 which in the lower portion thereof carry trunnioned therebetween a cranked rod I50. The offset portion I6I of cranked rod I50, when rod I50 is'rotated through a quarter revolution in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure. 13, is adapted to contact the upper leg of the latch I46 and thereby raise the lower leg to a vertical position as shown by the dotted lines in the same figure. Since block I41 may be locked at any desired position along the rod I48 by means of the set screw I52; the lower leg of latch I 48 acts as an adjustable stop for the pin I53 vertically'projecting from the upper face of the block on the sleeve I43. The pin I53 is ordib narily to the left of latch I46 as 'viewed in Figure '13 although the arm MI is shown in the released. position thereof on that .figure; and it may be seen that the further to the leftthe block I41 is moved the-greater will be the movement of arm hich will result in raising'the impression cylinder H2 in. a manner set forth above. Latch I46 is mounted loosely on'itspivot so that when raised to its uppei position by offset portion I6I and-the said 76 portion is returned to the lowered position thereof said latch M6 is below the pivotal mounting thereof. The latch I46 is thus retained in the upper position thereof by the pin I53 pressing against the lower leg thereof and frictionally engaging same. Since the impression taking pressure between cylinders H2 and 28 is slightly greater than the greatest printing pressure required, the cam 29 always rotates axle I26 so that the pin l53 disengages the latch during the impression taking part of the cycle, leaving said latch free-to be set to the upper position thereof by the action of the offset portion I5I. Offset portion I5I is raised just previous to. and during the printing cycle by a radial arm I59 which pushes the radially bent portion I55. which is integral with the forward end of rod I50. Rod I50 penetrates forward hanger I49 and. extends sufficiently to meet the arm I54. Arm I54 is aihxed to the left end of a transverse spindle I58 which is trunniohed in two uprights i5! best seen in Figure 8 in which only the right upright E51 is shown. Uprights I51 project, vertically from a narrow transverse shelf I58 supported between plates 24 and 25. A feeler I59 composed preferably of light spring steel is afiixed to a collarin turn fixedly mounted on spindle I66 proximate the middle thereof. Feeler W9 is adapted to be tilted backward by a sheet of blank paper as said paper is fed thereunder in a manner to be more fully set forth below. Feeler I59 thus constitutes the non-feed-safety stop actuator of this machine because the impression cylinder H2 is held up in a position to print only when a blank sheet of paper has backwardly displaced the feeler I59 suffi ciently to raise the latch I46 and thereby hold said cylinder II 2 up after the cam I29 has ceased to support said cylinder. of the blank paper into the grippers 41 occurs at a point in time when cam I29 is still in an active position pin I53 does not restrict the free movement of latch I46. The total load on the feeler I59 is thus a combination of the mechanical friction of the bearings and the weight of latch I46. This load being very small results in a very sensitive action of the feeler I59 and the nonfeed stop which it controls.

Although vertical movement of axle I" has been spoken of, when axle H1, is dropped the greatest distance encountered in the normal op- A eration of the machine; this movement is not sufiicient to disengage gears I20 and -30 so that the cylinders, when once regulated by turning the shank onworm II8, always remain in step regardless of the vertical scillations of cylinder=ll2.

The feeder is constructed within a boxlike chassis consisting of two opposed irregularly shaped vertical plates I60 and I6I which are maintained in position by several transverse tie-rods I62, all of'said rods not being shown for purposes of clarity. Plates I60 and IGI have the central portions thereof cut out to reduce the weight of the chassis. Plate IN on the outer face and proximate the rear edge thereof is provided with two vertical pins I64 projecting downwardly from two lugs thereat, shown on Figure 4. These pins are adapted for insertion into two o'rificed brackets I63 aflixed to the inner face of plate 25 proximate the forward edge thereof of which only the upper bracket IE3 is seen in Figures 8 and 11. The feeder chassis Since the feeding of the front edgerelation with the completely when- The feeder chassis may thus be placed in hinged machine proper, or removed ever this is found desirable.

is maintained in operative position by means of the latch I65 which is adapted to' detachably engage a pin inwardly and laterally projecting from the inner face of the plate 24 adjacent the forward edge thereof, said pin being omitted from the drawings.

Truhnioned between plates I60 and I6I proximate the rear upper edges thereof is a transverse shaft I65 which projects thelethrough at both ends thereof and has afiixed to each end thereof one of the pair of discs I61. Discs I61 each have pivotally mounted thereon, off center and adjacent the periphery thereof, a pair of connecting links I68. Links I68 at the forward ends thereof are pivotally connected to a pair of levels I69 and a long link bar' I10. Levers I69 are pivotally mounted proximate the lower ends thereof to the outer faces of plates I60 and IBI, while said levers have the upper or load arms thereof slotted to carry trunnioned therebetween a transverse rod I1I. Rod Ill is provided at each end thereof with integral spools and the annular grooves in said spools are engaged in the slots in the levers I69, while the integral collars on said spools ride along the guideways H12 which are hardened L shaped pieces affixed to corresponding cut out portions in the upper edges of plates I60 and IN. A pair of flat bars I13 bridge the gaps formed by the said out out portions so thatthe travel of rod IN is substantially that indicated by the train of arrows shown thereat on Figure 5, including of course the return motion as well. A

' pair of rigid hollow tubes I14 are angularly faced to form horizontal terminals at the rear extremities thereof and are mounted adjacent the forward ends thereof by penetrating a pair of blocks which are slideably mounted on rod I'II. Said blocks may be fixed in position along the rod I1I by means of set screws in said blocks. municate with a source of vacuum via the flexible tubes I15, the short offset tubes I16, the

and the third communicates with the atmosphere when a slideable cover closing same is laterally displaced. Displacement of the cover on valve I19 is accomplished by means of a link I8I interconnecting said cover with the slotted link I82 which is in turn pivotally connected to the load arm of the right hand lever I69 at a point proximate the pivotal point thereof (best seen in Figure 4). Link IBI is provided with a short pin which is adapted to slide within the slot in link I82 so that a rearward motion of said link I82 will open valve I19 and a forward motion will close said valve. The effective length and relative positioning of the slot in link I82 is accomplished by adjustment of two screws and lock nuts therefor secured in the said slot, one of the said screws being in front of the pin on link I8I and the other to the rear of said pin.

The forward ends of tubes I14 com- 7 plates I99 and I9I.

These screws are adjusted so that the valve I19 chine releasing said sheet just as the grippers on the transfer take hold of it.

The blank paper stack supporting platform I93 is supported by two large internally threaded blocks I94 which are adapted to ride up and down two vertical threaded rods I99 suitably trunnioned in bearing blocks projecting inwardly from The lower ends of the rods I99 penetrate the lower'bearing blocks and terminate in bevel gears which mesh with corresponding bevel gears I99 affixed to the transverse shaft I9'I. Shaft I 91 is trunnioned in tab-like extensions of the lower edges of plates I99 and I9I and penetrates therethrough to have affixed at one end thereof the manual control wheel I99, andat the other a pinion I99 and a short radial arm I99, said arm being free to rotate 'on said.

shaft. Arm I99 carries mounted thereon a ratchet pawl I9I' which engages the pinion I99. The free end. of radial arm I 99 is pivotally connected by means of the vertical connecting rod- I92 to -one arm of a bell crank lever I93 pivotally attached to plate I99 proximate the top edge thereof. The other arm of crank lever I93 is provided with an integral projecting pin which rides within a slot in'the upper portion of the link bar I19. The plate I99 is indented adjacent the crank lever I 93 so that an integral lug I94. projecting inwardly from the same arm of lever I93 to which rod I92 is attached, may extend to meet afeeler lever I99. Lever I99 is pivotally attached to a short stud I99 projecting inwardly.

of plate I 99, and the configuration of said lever is best seen in Figure '7. The longer arm of lever I99 rests on the top sheet of the blank paper stack I91 while the shorter upstanding arm is adapted to move in and out. under the lug I94.

Since paper stack I9'I is carried by the platform- I93 it may be seenthatwhen the platform has been raised so that the top sheet of said stack is at apredetermined height the lever I99 will have been also raised from a position indicated by the dot-dash lines on Figure I to a position indicated by the full lines thereon. Lever I99 in the latter position raisesthe'lug I94 together with the c lever I93 thereby preventing rod I92 from dropping. The action of link bar I19 is not inhibited because the pin on lever.I93 is free to ride in the slot therein. If rod I92 is not allowed to drop, the pawl "I can engage no new teeth on the pinion I99. Thus the platform I93 isalways maintained at a proper level for feeding the blank sheets from the stack I91 thereon. A transverse brace I99 supported "between plates was and m immediatelybelow the hollow tube lll carries amxed to the middle thereof and at right angles thereto a channel bar I99. A

front paper stack guide 299' is adapted to slide along and frictionally engage the channel bar I 99 so that said guide may be adjusted forwardlyor rearwardly to accommodate stacks having sheets of different lengths.

The stack in is maintained in position lateral- -ly by a pair of U shaped guides 29I at either side thereof. Guides "I areeach comprised of a transversely of the machine by means of the laterally by means of a lever 229 pivotally mounted in a post 229' afdxed to the inner face of.

horizontal bar 292, a front vertical guidepiece 293; and a rear vertical guidepiece 294. The rear guidepieces 294 are rearwardly bent and have horizontal upper tips 295 which rest upon a transverse horizontal shelf 299 supported between 9 9 plates I99 and I9I at the upper rear corners thereof. Rear guidepieces 294 carry suitably afflxed thereto perforated tubes 29'! which have the upper ends thereof occluded and the lower ends thereof connected by means of flexible tubing 299 to a suitable source of air under pressure said source not being shown, but which may very well be obtained from the same vane type pump used to obtain vacuum, as referred to hereinabove. The air emitted by tubes 29:! serves to separate the upper sheets in the stack I91, as seen in Figure 9 and indicated by thexlotted lines thereon, for the purpose of increasing the air pressure under the topmost sheet in the stack thereby permitting the vacuum in tubes I I4 to become effective in temporarily securing the top sheet to the ends of said tubes I14. The upright guidepieces 293 and 2,94 penetrate upwardly through the platform I93 in slots therein and are moved inwardly or outwardly in a lateral plane and horizontal bars 292 threadedly engaging the compound threaded shaft 299 which is horizontally and transversely mo ted between plates I99 and I9I. .Because of two oppositely threaded halves of shaft 299, rotation thereof by means of a handwheel 2 I9 thereon results in the U shaped guides 29I either approaching or receding from each other depending upon the direction of rotation of said handwheel. In order that the two guidepieces 29I may be moved simultaneously from side to side without disturbing the spacing therebetween, the shaft 299 may be laterally displaced in the following manner. The left end of shaft 299 is slideably mounted in a sleeve amxed to plate I99, said shaft penetrating both the sleeve and the plate. The right endof shaft 299 is journalled in a bearing 2 I 2 and retained thereat I by a pair of collars affixed on said shaftabutting said bearing on either side thereof. The bearing comprises an externally threaded tube, in engagement with an. internally threaded journal 2I3 integral with plate I9I, and a handwheel 2I4. Rotation. of thehandwheel 2I4 thus shifts the bearing 2 I2. laterally and accurate adjustment may be made. This adjustment is valuable in obtaining .correct registration of the printed material on the blank sheets of paper.

Power is communicated to the feeder by means of a pin 2I9 which projects laterally andinwardly-- from the face of a pulley 2I9 slidably mounted on a short fixed shaft 2" projecting from the inner face of plate 29 adjacent the forward edge thereof asbest 'seen m Figure 12.,Pm m ehe thereabout tiit prevented" rr'aih displacement therealong. Pin 2|! is positioned to move inwardlyand to strike the head of a hardened screw 2" said screw being in threaded engagement with the right hand disc I91 and serving. also to pivotally attach the connecting'link I99 thereat as set forth above. with the. pulley 2" and said pulley .is shifted plate 2.9.- The upper end of lever 229 is'reduced so that'it engages the annular groove in pulley 2| 9 while the lower end of said lever is-providedwith an 22I 1s;

Pin m is moved which rides on resetting control Hi6 between two collars fixed thereon inwardly of the plate 25 best seen in Figure 8. A contractile coil spring 222 interconnects the lower end of lever 226 and the upper bracket 63 and thereby tends to move the pulley 216 outwardly and disengage the pin 215 and screw 2E9, while another similar spring 223 tends to pull the lower arm of lever 131 outwardly and to thus disengage the pulley 136 from the cam I31. Springs 222 and 223 would thus stop the feeding and printing of the machine were it not for the action of a latching lever 224 which is adapted to engage an annular groove in the portion of re-setting control 140 which extends outside the plate 25. Latching lever 224 is pivotally attached at the lower end thereof to the outer surface of plate 25 while the movements of said lever are governed by a radial arm 225 affixed to the right hand end of axle l26. Radial arm 225 and latching lever 224 are interconnected by a coil spring 226 which is normally relaxed. As long as the entire ma chine operates normally and the axle 126 is rotated so as to maintain impression cylinder I 12 in the raised positions thereof in a manner fully set forth above the spring 226, because of radial arm 225, will tend to keep the lever 224 in the annular groove in the re-setting control I46, when however the feeler 159 is not actuated by a properly fed sheet of blank paper and the impression cylinder H2 is allowed to drop to the lowered position thereof, radial arm 225 moves to the right as viewed in Figure 11 '(forwardly of the machine) and the spring 226 completely relaxed acts like a comparatively stiff connecting link thereby pushing lever 224 out of engagement with the annular groove in the starting control I46. At this point springs 222 and 223 function to disengage the feeder drive and to disengage the mechanism for elevating the impression cylinder H2, and these remain inactive until the re -setting control 140' is manually pulled outwardly after any irregularity has been corrected. It may thus be seen that upon the failure of a single sheet to feed correctly not only is the feeder stopped, until manually started, but the impression cylinder H2 drops down to a non-print position so-that it is not damaged by contact with the bare portion of cylinder 28 and also so that an impression is not placed on cylinder 28 which will smudge the backs of the sheets of paper to be subsequently fed into the machine.

Sprocket H8 is driven by a continuous chain 221 which also encircles a sprocket 228 fixed on shaft 21 adjacent plate 25 and an idler sprocket 229 mounted on plate 25. Sprockets 2I8 and 22,8

rotate at the same speed and in step with each other, and since the feeder is driven by pin 215 it must always be coordinated with relation to cylinder 28 since said feeder will not commence to operate until the pin 2| pushes the screw H9.

The transfer is designed to pick up the sheets of paper as fed to it by the pneumatic tubes I14 and to transfer said sheets to the grippers 41 on the main cylinder 28. The transfer is com-.

prised of a shaft 236 having integrally aflixed thereto a plurality of aligned blocks 23l, gri pers 2 32 slideably mounted in channels in said blocks and retained by plates23l', a transverse cam-bar 233, and a pair of cam-bar support brackets 234 only the right bracket being shown. The grippers 232 have right angle offset tips which grip the paper against the top surface of the blocks 23] under tension furnished by the contractile coil springs 235 which interconnect the lower portion of the grippers 232 and the blocks 23!. The grippers 232 extend in a radial direction from the shaft 236, but the lower portions.

of said grippers are rearwardly offset to permit them to pass in back of said shaft and to permit the lower terminals of said grippers to act as followers for the several cam surfaces in the cambar 233. The cam-bar 233 is carried by brackets 234 which allow said bar to reciprocate therethrough transversely of the machine. Shaft 230 is trunnioned in plates 24 and 25 and has fixed thereon adjacent plate 25, a gear 236 which intermittently engages the segmental gear 33. In order that the gear 236 may always return to the original position thereof, and that the blocks 23! may be properly aligned withinv the several cut out portions of the shelf l58 at the time a pick up is made, a resilient stop is provided. This resilient stop comprises a notched L shaped lever 231 which is pivotally mounted on a short pin 238 projecting inwardly from plate 24, a spring 239 wound about pin 238 and anchored by the pin 24% also in plate 24, and a radial latch arm 24L Lever 231 is forced up by the spring 239 so that each time'shaft 23 8 makes a complete revolution the arm 24! snaps into the notch in said lever. The cam-bar 233 is reduced in cross section at the right hand end thereof and it penetrates a corresponding hole in the gear 236 to finally terminate in afi'ixation to the inner face of a pulley 242 slideably mounted on shaft The transverse movement of pulley 242,

236. and consequently the opening and closing of the grippers 232 is controlled by a bifurcated lever 243. The lower or yoke portion of lever243 is provided with diametrically opposed mounted rollers which engage the annular groove in pulley 242, while the upper end of said lever is pro-,;

vided with a mounted roller which-engages a 246 when the transfer is in the position shown by the full lines in Figure 9 at which time the grippers 41 are closed and the grippers 232 are fully open. Figure 9 schematically illustrates the action of the transfer. The grippers 232 remain open during more than three quarters of the revolution madeby the transfer carriage, closing only momentarily when the depressed portion 249 of cam'244 is opposite the upper end of lever 246, the correlation of the cams being best seen in Figure 1. The grippers 232 are timed to close as soon as a sheet has been, placed under the tips thereof by the pneumatic tubes I14 and to open as soon as the gripp rs 41 have closed over the edge of said sheet.

One side of the slot 35 is provided with a row ofindentations 241 spaced to correspond with the upper tips of the grippers 232 and through which said grippers pass as the transfer carriage is revolved. These indentations allow the transfer and the cylinder 28 to approach very closely at the time the paper is transferred from one to the other.

In order that the front edge of the sheet as fed by the pneumatic tubes I14 shall not pass over the upper tips of 'the grippers 232 a row of mounted on a stationary transverse spindle 250 carried at either "end thereof in uprights I51 previously described. v

Generaloperation It is believed that to those skilled in the art to which this machine pertains, the operation thereofwill be apparent. v

A previously prepared lithographic plate 38 is placed upon the cylinder 28 and fastened thereto. The machine is started by connecting the motor 23 to a suitable E. M. F. but the re-setting control is released -(moved inwardly of the machine). With the machine running the inking device 93 is manually lowered by moving lever I06 and the ink reservoir is moved into contact with its associated roller for a period of time sufllcient to place a proper supply of ink on the rollers in said device.

A stack of paper is placed on the platform I83 and the guides adjusted by sliding guide 200 and turning the wheels 2I0 and 2. The platform I83 is then raised by turning wheel IOLuntil lever I95 engages lug I94. Now upon pullingrr'e-setting control II the impression cylin er II2 will rise and the feeder willcommence to feed. The tubes I14 will pick up the top sheet of paper and place it within the transfer which will in turn carry said sheet to the gripper 41 on the cylinder 28. The paper. will then be carried around by cylinder 28 and wilibe printed upon by the blanket I I3. When the front edge of th paper is opposite the traveling gripper IS, the grippers 41 open and the gripper I! snaps shut over said paper edge.

The paper is then carried out and inverted and released, finally stacking, face up on shelf I08 between the guides which have been properly set thereon.

This process is then repeated. ,It is distinctly understood that minor changes in the material structure, and arrangement of the parts of this machine may be indulged in ti'on and the scope of the appended claims. I claim: 1

-1. In an offset lithographic machine having a 'without departing from the spirit of the invening means adapted to force the impression cyl-v -inderinto contact with the main cylinder, actuating means associated with thewmain cylinder for actuating said elevating means whereby the impression cylinder contacts the lithographic-sheet carrying-portion of the main cylinder, a second actuating means being manually adjustable "for actuating said elevating means whereby the impression cylinder contacts the paper carrying portion of said main cylinder, a manually operable resetting control for connecting said actuating means and said second actuating means with said elevating means, means for" upsetting said resetting control thereby disconnecting the said actuating means and the second actuating means fromsaid elevating means upon the failure of a sheet to be properly fed by said feeder into said machine.

2. In an offset lithographic machine, a main cylinder adapted to carry a lithographic sheet on a'flrst portion thereof and a blank sheet of paper on a second portion thereof, the impression cylinder coacting with and'adapted for movement toward and away from said main cylinder, automatic means to move the impression cylinder to-v ROY ABERLE.

. justable means to regulate said second automatic.

means. 

